Band swept the judges off their feet at UIL
The Redhawk band department returns back to pre-pandemic procedure as the mask mandate and social distancing guidelines have been lifted. “The biggest challenges we have been facing the past four weeks already during our summer band camp has been reestablishing and building the culture and climate of the band program,” assistant band director Tyler Elvidge said. “The underclassmen have never gotten to experience a true high school band season so we are relying on our upperclassmen and leadership team to set the standard.”
October 21, 2019
Tone, marching, and musicianship, were all factors on Saturday when marching band participated in the UIL Region 24 Marching Contest at Little Elm, where the Redhawks were able to get 1’s (the highest score) across the board, advancing the band to Saturday’s Area competition also in Little Elm.
“The results were exactly what we had prepared for and the students went in ready to perform,” associate band director Zack Anderson said. “Given all the progress we have seen in the past couple of weeks, [this week] we could even double the level of focus and energy that we have going into area.”
Moving on to the Area round, the band will compete against other 5A schools from region 2, 24, and 25 for a spot in UIL area finals.
“This year we were much more prepared [going into region],” drum major, junior Madison Crater said. “We were a lot more organized about what we wanted to do and how to get it done. The procedure and the way we went about it, we were able to get so much more on the floor, get things done in a timely manner, and have it be more clean.”
Marching bands have the opportunity of advancing to compete at a state level every other year with this year being the chance for the Redhawks to make state.
“I think [the goal] is for the audience to walk away from the show excited,” band student-teacher Joseph Sheehan said. “To be able to recognize the clouds and nines in the music and enjoy the show as an entertainment package as a whole- wanting to see the show again.”
